Thomas j



(No Model.)

T. J. WALLACE.

RETAINER FOR UMBRELLA 0R PARASOL RUNNERS.

Patented Dec. 11. 1888.

I NVENTORI may v c w x g d b m? m M MU w n? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

THOMAS J. IVALLACE, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VILLIAM H. EHLERS, OF SAME PLACE.

RETAINER FOR UMBRELLA OR PARASOL RUNNERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,418, dated December 11, 1888.

Application filed March 7, 1888. Serial No. 266,415. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. WALLACE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Retainers for Umbrella and Parasol Runners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in spring retainers or catches for the runners of umbrellas, parasols, and for similar purposes, and particularly to that class of such retainers in which sheet metal or thin metal plate is employed in making the retainer, as distinguished from spring-wire. The ordinary retainer for this purpose is made from steel wire bent into form and secured in place by a rivet, a transverse rivet at the head of the retainer being employed to prevent said head from being drix'en out of the recess in the stick.

The object of my invention is to provide a spring catch or retainer made from a single piece of sheet metal, which will require no transverse rivets or other extraneous devices for fastening it in place in its recess.

My invention will be fully described hereinafter, and its novel features carefully defined in the claim.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a front view of the retainer in place in the stock. Fig. 2 is a side view of the retainer in place in the stock, the stock and runner being represented in section. Fig. 3 is a side view of the retainer detached.

In the drawings I have only shown enough i of the stock X and runner Y to illustrate the They right angles, or substantially so. The head 0 is connected with the body by a spring-bar, (Z, said bar being attached at its end only, a long slot or slit, to, separating it from the body at the side. At its end adjacent to the head 0 the body is beveled to fit the bevel or incline on the head and to form a close joint when the parts are in their normal positions. This correspondence of the bevels on the head and body is not, however, absolutely essential. It is only essential that the free end of the body shall overhang or take over the head, as shown, so that the head cannot be drawn out of the recess y in the stock. The form of the recess y is illustrated in Fig. 2.

In fitting the retainer in the stock a hole is made to receive the spur b, and the retainer is placed and driven home, when the outer edge of the body a should be flush with the face of the stock. The surplus portion of spur I) (seen in dotted lines in Fig. :2) is now out off and the spur riveted down on the stock. This is all that is required in fixing the retainer in the stock. No transverse rivets will be needed.

\Vhen the head 0 is depressed to free the runner, it will assume the position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This movement is attained by flexure of the spring-bar d.

It will be understood that by making the retainer all in a single piece or integral, and of such a form that it may be produced by a single stroke of a die, I am able to effect an important economy in the manufacture, and by so constructing the retainer as to avoid the use of all extraneous means of fastening it in its recess I am also able to effect an important economy in the inai'iufacture of the umbrellas in which my retainers are employed.

My object in making the spur so long is merely to facilitate the placing of the retainer in the recess in the stock. The tip of the long spur may be entered, and thus serve as a guide to the insertion of the main portion of the retainer into the recess.

Having thus described my invention, I claim As an improved article of manufacture, a

spring catch or retainer constructed inte- In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed grally, and consisting of a body, a, an attachmy name in the presence of two subscribing ing-spnr, b, projecting from said body, a head, Witnesses;

o, and a spring-bar, cl, extending from said THOMAS J. VYALLACE. 5 head back under the lateral portion of said \Vitnesses:

body and joining the body at the pointwhere HENRY CONNETT,

the spur is situated, substantially as set forth. J. D. CAPLINGER. 

